Partitioned pool

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a new partitioned pool wherein all the lanes are separated by partitions. The partitioned pool according to the present invention provides to all the athletes equal and identical boundary conditions and there would be no splashes from side lanes. Further, in the partitioned pools according to the present invention the expensive wave eating lane ropes are discarded.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the improvements in the design of a swimmingpool used for the competitive swimming races such as in national,international championships and Olympic games.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present using swimming pool has some draw-backs. Even though, it isbeing used in all the above said championships. Due to this faultydesign so many efficient swimmers (sometimes few previous Olympicchampions) had been disqualified at the preliminary stages in their owncountries and they were being made as patients of mental depression.Competitive swimming is a sport like that of running races (sprintevents). But, there are some notable differences between swimming andrunning events.

-   -   1. In running races even the athletes are covered by the medium        (air) they will have grip on the earth. With that grip only they        use their muscle power and run.        -   In swimming events swimmers are suspended in the medium            (water) itself. So, they will have no grip to move forward.            Hence, they use their energy to float on the medium and then            displace the medium to their sides and move forward            (Newton's Third Law of Motion).    -   2. Water is 11 times more resistant, 55 times more viscous and        777 times denser than air.    -   3. In running races we cannot find the boundaries of the medium        because, air is everywhere on our planet.        -   In aquatics swimmers are confined to a closed medium where,            they find specific boundaries (i.e. side walls and bottom).    -   4. In running events other athletes are not disturbed by a        particular athlete.        -   In aquatics side lane swimmers to a particular swimmer are            very much disturbed by the waves produced by him.

Draw-Backs of the Existing Swimming Pool Design

The present swimming pool used for competitive swimming has a closedmedium. While conducting a competitive race in a closed medium all theparticipant swimmers must have equal and identical conditions (or)parameters.

Parameters:—

-   -   1. Temperature - - - same to all swimmers.    -   2. Surface tension - - - same to all swimmers.    -   3. Density - - - same to all swimmers.    -   4. Specific gravity - - - same to all swimmers.    -   5. Depth of the medium - - - same to all swimmers    -   6. Viscosity or fluid friction - - - same to all swimmers.    -   7. Boundary conditions - - - not same to all swimmers.    -   8. Wave disturbance - - - not same to all swimmers.

Boundary Conditions

Since, the medium (water) is a Newtonian fluid it obeys the Newton's lawof fluid friction (or) Newton's law of viscosity.

${{\tau ({tau})} = \mu}\frac{u}{y}$

Where,

-   -   τ (tau)=shear stress    -   μ=coefficient of viscosity (or) dynamic viscosity.    -   u=velocity of the swimmer.    -   y=distance from the nearer side wall.

$\frac{u}{y} = {{velocity}\mspace{14mu} {gradient}}$F=τ(tau)×A

Where,

-   -   F=force required by a swimmer to move forward with a velocity of        u.    -   A=total wetted area of the swimmer.

F=F ₁ +F ₂

Where,

-   -   F₁, F₂ are forces with respect to the two side walls.

Therefore,

$F = {{\mu \; A\frac{u}{{y}\; 1}} + {\mu \; A\frac{u}{{y}\; 2}}}$

-   -   y₁=nearer side wall distance from the swimmer    -   y₂=farer side wall distance from the swimmer

$\begin{matrix}{F = {\mu \; {{Au}\left( {{1/y_{1}} + {1/y_{2}}} \right)}}} \\{= {\mu \; {{Au}\left( {{1/y} + {1/b} - y} \right)}}}\end{matrix}$

Where,

-   -   b=total width of the pool

See FIGS. 1 and 2

1=b, 2=y, 3=b−y, 4=velocity distribution, 5=nearer side wall, 6=farerside wall.

In the above equation (μAu) is a constant for a particular swimmer inany lane.

-   -   Therefore, F is inversely proportional to y.

So, the swimmers distance from the side wall increases, the force (F)required to move forward will be decreased. The above equation isapplicable where, the velocity distribution is linear. For larger widthswhere, the velocity distribution is parabolic the equation will becomeas

$U = {\frac{1}{2\mu}\left( {- \frac{p}{x}} \right)\left( {{by} - y^{2}} \right)\mspace{14mu} \ldots \mspace{14mu} {plane}\mspace{14mu} {Poisenille}\mspace{14mu} {Flow}\mspace{14mu} {equation}}$

(Fundamental rule of fluid mechanics is whether the object moves throughthe stationary water or the water moves around the stationary object isalike.)

$U = {\frac{1}{2\mu}\left( {- \frac{p}{x}} \right)\left( {b - y} \right)y}$

Where,

$\frac{p}{x} = {{Pressure}\mspace{14mu} {gradient}}$

-   -   (b−y)=farer side wall distance from the swimmer.    -   y=nearer side wall distance from the swimmer.

In the above equation the value of

$\left\lbrack {\frac{1}{2\mu}\left( {- \frac{p}{x}} \right)} \right\rbrack$

for a particular swimmer is constant in all lanes.

Therefore u∝y

Velocity of the swimmer is directly proportional to the distance betweenthe swimmer and the side wall of the swimming pool.

So, the two side wall distances from a lane play an important role indetermining the velocity of a swimmer.

As, the swimming race conducting authorities are measuring the race timeto an accuracy of 1/100 of a second, the minor variations in velocityshould also be taken into account.

Several attempts have been made to overcome the above mentioneddrawbacks. One such attempt is to provide an extra lane at each end ofthe pool (extra widening by 5 meters) to rectify the velocityirregularities of the swimmers.

Accordingly the swimming pool in the recent Olympics was constructedwith 10 lanes each of 2.5 meters wide. Only 8 swimmers participated inall the races leaving the end lanes without swimmers. However, thedrawbacks still exist.

Further it is very important to know about the lane coefficient tounderstand the boundary conditions in a better way.

Lane Coefficient (L.C)

Lane coefficient is the ratio of the distance from the farer side wallto the distance from the nearer side wall (both distances measured fromthe centre of a lane).

L.C of a lane=farer side wall distance/nearer side wall distanceL.C of 8^(th) and 1^(st) lanes=(W+7Lw)/(W−7Lw)L.C of 7^(th) and 2^(nd) lanes=(W+5Lw)/(W−5Lw)L.C of 6^(th) and 3^(rd) lanes=(W+3Lw)/(W−3Lw)L.C of 5^(th) and 4^(th) lanes=(W+Lw)/(W−Lw)

Where,

W=width of the pool

Lw=lane width

20 Meter Wide Swimming Pool Boundary Conditions

1^(st) and 8^(th) lane coefficient=(20+17.5)/(20−17.5)=15.002^(nd) and 7^(th) lane coefficient=(20+12.5)/(20−12.5)=4.33333^(rd) and 6^(th) lane coefficient=(20+7.5)/(20−7.5)=2.24^(th) and 5^(th) lane coefficient=(20+2.5)/(20−2.5)=1.2857

25 Meter Wide Swimming Pool Boundary Conditions

1^(st) and 8^(th) lane coefficient=(25+17.5)/(25−17.5)=5.66662^(nd) and 7^(th) lane coefficient=(25+12.5)/(25−12.5)=3.03^(rd) and 6^(th) lane coefficient=(25+7.5)/(25−7.5)=1.85714^(th) and 5^(th) lane coefficient=(25+2.5)/(25−2.5)=1.2222

Still, there is a difference between first and fourth lanes after extrawidening. So the concept and practice of extra widening is wrong.

So, the concept extra widening of the pool by 5 meters does noteliminate the differences in boundary conditions of the participantswimmers.

Velocity of the Swimmer is Inversely Proportional to the LaneCoefficient.

Lane coefficient values of all lanes with different pool widths:

Pool width 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and (in meters) 8 lanes 7 lanes 6 lanes 5lanes 20 15.00 4.3333 2.2000 1.2857 25 5.6666 3.00 1.8571 1.2222 30 3.802.4285 1.6666 1.1818 35 3.000 2.111 1.5454 1.1538 40 2.5555 1.90901.4615 1.1333 45 2.2727 1.7692 1.4000 1.1176 50 2.0769 1.6666 1.35291.1052 55 1.9333 1.5882 1.3157 1.0952 60 1.8235 1.5263 1.2857 1.0869 651.7368 1.4761 1.2608 1.0800 70 1.6666 1.4347 1.2400 1.0740 75 1.60861.400 1.2222 1.0689 80 1.5600 1.3703 1.2068 1.0645 85 1.5185 1.34481.1935 1.0606 90 1.4827 1.3225 1.1818 1.0571 95 1.4516 1.3030 1.17141.0540 100 1.4242 1.2857 1.1621 1.0512 110 1.3783 1.2564 1.1463 1.0465120 1.3414 1.2325 1.1333 1.0425 130 1.3111 1.2127 1.1224 1.0392 1401.2857 1.1960 1.1132 1.0363 150 1.2641 1.1818 1.1052 1.0338 160 1.24561.1694 1.0983 1.0317 170 1.2295 1.1587 1.0923 1.0298 180 1.2153 1.14921.0869 1.0281 190 1.2028 1.1408 1.0821 1.0266 200 1.1917 1.1333 1.07791.0253 250 1.1505 1.1052 1.0618 1.0202 300 1.1238 1.0869 1.0512 1.0168350 1.1052 1.0740 1.0437 1.0143 400 1.0915 1.0645 1.0382 1.0125 4501.0809 1.0571 1.0338 1.0111 500 1.0725 1.0512 1.0304 1.0100 550 1.06571.0465 1.0276 1.0091 600 1.0600 1.0425 1.0253 1.0083 650 1.0553 1.03921.0233 1.0077 700 1.0512 1.0363 1.0216 1.0071 750 1.0477 1.0338 1.02021.0066 800 1.0447 1.0317 1.0189 1.0062 850 1.0420 1.0298 1.0178 1.0058900 1.0396 1.0281 1.0168 1.0055 950 1.0375 1.0266 1.0159 1.0052 1,0001.0356 1.0253 1.0151 1.0050 1,500 1.0236 1.0168 1.0100 1.0033 2,0001.0176 1.0125 1.0075 1.0025 2,500 1.0140 1.0100 1.0060 1.0020 3,0001.0117 1.0083 1.0050 1.0016 3,500 1.0100 1.0071 1.0042 1.0014 4,0001.0087 1.0062 1.0037 1.0012 4,500 1.0078 1.0055 1.0033 1.0011 5,0001.0070 1.0050 1.0030 1.0010 6,000 1.0058 1.0041 1.0025 1.0008 7,0001.0050 1.0035 1.0021 1.0007 8,000 1.0043 1.0031 1.0018 1.0006 9,0001.0038 1.0027 1.0016 1.0005 10,000 1.0035 1.0025 1.0015 1.0005 15,0001.0023 1.0016 1.0010 1.0003 20,000 1.0017 1.0012 1.0007 1.0002 25,0001.0014 1.0010 1.0006 1.0002 30,000 1.0011 1.0008 1.0005 1.0001 35,0001.0010 1.0007 1.0004 1.0001

If, there has to be no difference in the boundary conditions (up to 3decimal points) between first and fourth lanes, the pool must be widenedup to 35 kilo meters.

The discussed above plane Poiseuille flow equation can be written interms of W and Lw.

In 1^(st) and 8^(th) lanes - - -

$u = {\frac{1}{8\mu}{\left( {- \frac{p}{x}} \right)\left\lbrack {W^{2} - \left( {7{Lw}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}}$

In 2^(nd) and 7^(th) lanes - - -

$u = {\frac{1}{8\mu}{\left( {- \frac{p}{x}} \right)\left\lbrack {W^{2} - \left( {5{Lw}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}}$

In 2^(rd) and 6^(th) lanes - - -

$u = {\frac{1}{8\mu}{\left( {- \frac{p}{x}} \right)\left\lbrack {W^{2} - \left( {3{Lw}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}}$

In 4^(th) and 5^(th) lanes - - -

$u = {\frac{1}{8\mu}{\left( {- \frac{p}{x}} \right)\left\lbrack {W^{2} - ({Lw})^{2}} \right\rbrack}}$

Wave Disturbances

The waves produced by the centre lane swimmers move across the lanes andcause disturbance to side lane swimmers. To avoid this problem in 1960'sAdolph Kiefer invented wave-crushing [or] wave-eating lane ropes and gotpatent for them. These lane ropes diminish the waves and make the poolless turbulent. However these also have drawbacks. Actually lane ropesdiminish the superficial waves only. They do not prevent the underwatercurrents because water moves as a continuum.

The details are given in FIG. 3.

1. water surface. 2. top layers of wave. 3. lane rope. 4. Middle layersof wave. 5. Pool bottom.

So, the wave disturbance is not eliminated completely by installing laneropes. Due to improper boundary conditions and partial elimination ofwave disturbances, the final pictures of 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 1500 mraces are looked like in inverted “v” shape which is given in FIG. 4.Where, 1 to 8 numbers are lane numbers.

The swimmers in 1,2,7,8 lanes have no chances to win a race. (Unlessthey have extraordinary swimming power among all participant swimmers)Their chances are limited to a little.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need to provide swimming pools forcompetitive swimming which overcomes the above drawbacks and providesequal opportunity to the swimmers in all lanes of winning the race.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a new partitioned poolwherein all the lanes are separated by partitions. The partitioned poolaccording to the present invention do not have wave disturbances (to orfrom the side lane swimmers) in any of the lanes in the pool. Further,the partitioned pool according to the present invention each lane actslike an individual swimming pool and have a lane coefficient value of1.00. Furthermore, the partitioned pool according to the presentinvention provides to all the athletes equal and identical boundaryconditions and there would be no splashes from side lanes.

Also, according to the present invention it is easy to modify the olderpools to partitioned pools as described in herein and it is easy toremake the original pool by removing the partitions. In the partitionedpools according to the present invention the expensive wave eating laneropes are discarded.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theappended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the linear velocity distribution.

FIG. 2 illustrates the parabolic velocity distribution.

FIG. 3 illustrates the wave movement.

FIG. 4 inverted “V” shaped final picture of a race.

FIG. 5 illustrates the plan of the pool as claimed in the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the cross section of the pool at x-x as claimed inthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as to not obscure the present invention.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides apartitioned pool wherein all the lanes are separated by partitions. Thepartitioned pool according to the present invention does not have wavedisturbances (to or from the side lane swimmers) in any of the lanes inthe pool. Further, the partitioned pool according to the presentinvention each lane acts like an individual swimming pool and has a lanecoefficient value of 1.00. Furthermore, the partitioned pool accordingto the present invention provides to all the athletes equal andidentical boundary conditions and there would be no wave disturbancesand even no splashes from side lanes.

According to another embodiment of the present invention the length ofthe pool is 50 m and the width of the pool is 30 m. The pool has 8lanes, 9 partitions. Each lane is 3.66 m (12 feet) wide because it istwice the average wing span length of a swimmer to facilitate freeswimming action and 1.83 m (6 feet) deep to provide a hydraulically mostefficient section. (The hydraulically most efficient section is the onewhich has the minimum wetted perimeter for a particular cross sectionalarea). To get this section, depth must be half of the lane width. Inthis type of section drag force will be minimum and velocity is maximum.The Partition height is 2.2 m to leave a free board of 0.37 m to preventthe splashes from the adjacent lanes. The partitions are made oftransparent material (irrespective of the material). If not thepartitions must be transparent at least at the top 1.1 m portion towatch the relative positions of the other swimmers by a particularswimmer when race is going on. The number of partitions can be changeddepending on the number of lanes. The bottom half partitions areprovided (if necessary) with 1 cm dia holes to maintain the water leveland water temperature the same in all lanes.

According to another embodiment the partition is transparent and can bemade of glass, fibre glass, plastic, metal, wood or a combination ofthese. The partition thickness is about 5 to 20 cms, preferably 8 cms.The free board is 20 to 40 cm preferably 37 cm. The water depth isbetween 150 to 300 cm preferably 183 cm and the width of the lane isbetween 300 to 400 cm preferably 366 cm.

Example

In FIG. 5 (plan of the pool).—scale (1:250)

Width of the pool—3000 cm. (30 m)

Length of the pool—5000 cm. (50 m)

Lanes—8

Partitions—9

Lane markings—8

Starting pads—8

In FIG. 6 (cross section at x-x).—Scale. (1:50)

Partition thickness—8 cm

Free board—37 cm

Water depth—183 cm

Width of the lane—366 cm

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A partitioned pool comprising lanes, partitions, lanemarkings and starting pads.
 7. The partitioned pool of claim 6, whereinsaid partitions are transparent partitions.
 8. The partitioned pool ofclaim 6, wherein the said partitions are transparent at least at tophalf.
 9. The partitioned pool of claim 6, wherein the said partitionsare made of rubber, plastic, glass, fibre glass, metal, wood or acombination thereof.
 10. The partitioned pool of claim 6, wherein thepartition thickness is 5 cm to 20 cm, preferably 8 cm.